After finishing second overall in the Open 2WD category last season, Lucas Gabrielsson came very close to dethroning Viktor Johansson in the race for the RallyX title. A performance that has encouraged the talented Finnish driver to return for a full campaign in 2026.
Having made a major impression in 2024 by winning the Open 2WD Pro AM category with five victories to his name, Gabrielsson once again lived up to expectations over the past year by confirming his excellent form.
With two wins and a total of five podium finishes, the driver of the famous Toyota Starlet ultimately fell just eight points short of eventual champion Viktor Johansson.
Looking back on the season, Gabrielsson reflects on what proved to be a highly educational campaign.
“The 2025 season was successful in many ways, even though we had to deal with a lot of new elements. It was my first full season in RallyX, we discovered several circuits that were completely new to me, and the car had also evolved with many changes, particularly with the introduction of a turbo engine,” explained the Finnish driver.
After being eliminated twice in succession during the opening event in Riga, Gabrielsson was forced to dig deep to turn things around.
“The first event in Riga wasn’t the easiest weekend. I made a few mistakes and that left a bit of frustration at the start of the season. But we quickly managed to turn things around. From that point on, things improved significantly and I think we showed good pace as well as strong consistency throughout the year.”
The season was not without its technical challenges, however, particularly during the Danish round at the beginning of August 2025.
“One of the most difficult moments came in Denmark when we had to open the engine after Sunday’s race. Ulrik Linneman helped us tremendously in that situation and we were able to have the cylinder head machined in a very short time thanks to KK Autoteknik. Thanks to their support, we were able to get everything back together and continue the season in Germany the following weekend. I’m still very grateful to them.”
Despite these setbacks, Gabrielsson quickly established himself as one of the main contenders in the category, engaging in an intense title battle with Viktor Johansson.
“The fight for the title with Viktor Johansson was very intense and pushed us to give our best throughout the entire season. In the end we finished second in the championship. It’s an excellent result and I would also like to thank my entire team, who did a remarkable job on the car and helped us achieve this outcome.”
Following such a strong season, Gabrielsson has naturally chosen to continue the RallyX adventure in 2026, a championship whose competitive environment he particularly enjoys.
“The RallyX series is truly a fantastic championship. The organisation is excellent, the circuits are great and the level of competition is very high, which makes the races extremely close. That can only increase my motivation.”
“The atmosphere in the paddock is also very enjoyable, which makes the experience even more positive for both drivers and teams. On top of that, the free live streaming broadcasts are of very high quality and allow fans who cannot travel to the circuits to follow the races.”
In this context, continuing in RallyX was a natural decision.
“Under these circumstances, continuing the RallyX adventure in 2026 was a fairly natural decision for us. I would also like to thank all my partners and supporters who make my participation this season possible.”
This commitment is all the more significant as Gabrielsson must balance his racing career with his professional activity.
“I run my own car repair workshop and I work alone, so every trip abroad for a race means closing the workshop for several days. Their support is therefore extremely valuable to me.”
Nevertheless, the Finnish driver remains measured when it comes to his ambitions.
“We always approach the season one race at a time and we will see what 2026 has in store for us. First and foremost we want to enjoy ourselves on track and take part in some great racing.”
Fully aware of the highly competitive nature of the Open 2WD category, Gabrielsson knows that consistency will once again be the key.
“Of course the objective is always to improve and do better than the previous year. But the Open 2WD category includes many very fast and experienced drivers. It’s therefore best to stay focused on each round and see where we stand at the end of the championship.”
The 2026 season will also feature the addition of a new round in Finland at the Honkajoki circuit — a development that Gabrielsson welcomes enthusiastically.
“Having a round in Finland always helps a bit in terms of budget because it reduces travel compared to the other events. RallyX is also very popular in Finland, so it’s excellent news for the fans who will have the chance to attend the races in person. It’s great news both for supporters and for Finnish drivers.”